Finally found an E30

[Regnar75]

dude please dont do plastic bumper swaps. you have a prime example of middle ground! ellipsoids, late model valance, rear valance, and aluminum bumpers which when polished look awesome. i personally think the aluminum bumpers with a late valance look spectacular. just weigh your options and look around online before you decide to do bumper swaps.

[csmitty]

Took a few more pics to show the condition its in.









Under the driver rocker


Driver side


Should the footwell be that low?








So whats the large connector sitting there?

[csmitty]

Got the intake and valve cover off.



Looks like it was decently taken care of. Seems like there's a bit of oil from the valve stem seals. Debating on taking the head off. Any thoughts?

[berlow94]

somebodies got there cutting a welding cut out for them!
Looks like a great project! Love the color.

[csmitty]

Ha. Yea it would be. Not sure how far I want to go though on the rust repair.

Here's the head casting number.

[buguhrich]

[ATTACH]68616[/ATTACH]

Yep, that's an 885 head. Definitely a SETA. Great find!

And I agree with Regnar75, do some looking around at pictures before making the final decision whether you want to swap to plastic. I've got an '88 325is and initially wanted to do the swap, but the Al bumpers have started to grow on me...

[iwantspeed]

the large connector at the bottom of this picture is an aux fuse box one wire in there always has power and the other wire only has power when the key is in the ignition and turned to position 2

the other connector that is below the black box plugs into your air flow meter.

So whats the large connector sitting there?

[csmitty]

Ah ok. I think I've seen a picture with another box there before, might be good for some accessories. Makes sense. And yea I knew that other was the AFM since I unplugged it from there.

[iwantspeed]

Ah ok. I think I've seen a picture with another box there before, might be good for some accessories. Makes sense. And yea I knew that other was the AFM since I unplugged it from there.

Cool.
The aux fuse box clips onto the main fuse box

[csmitty]

So bit of on update. I'm researching on the parts to convert over from the i cars. Most i've read is that on the seta the head needs to have extra oil passages drilled for an i cam or aftermarket. The 885 has the 7 journal passages obviously but it seems that the eta cam typically only had 4 bearing journals? So would there just be an open space if the eta cam was in the i head typically? I only ask as I was going to take my head to get drilled. However the cam in my head as seen above has all the journals used. So I would assume that they have the oil passages. Would that be a good assumption? Basically only needing to swap the cam and valve springs.

I was browsing the local pull a part as they got in a new E30 and it was a 325i date 3/87. Had the head and its just easier to get the whole head than pull the cam shaft. Plus its only $66. And I figured it'd have all the oil passages. Anyways the inside of this thing was clean, as in no oil or varnish, timing belt was still intact and nothing visable broken so pulled it and brought it home.





Also the intake valves were clean and maybe new guides? However the CC side shows some deposits. So maybe it got carbon'd clean? The exhaust side looked like normal use. Anyone have any theory's? I'm tempted to run this head as it is. Just change out the camshaft seals. It has some surface rust on the lobes but doesn't seem bad.



Also I was browsing one of the other E30s there and sitting in the floorboard was this guy. Which made it super simple, and only $20. I've got the 154.



I was determining which parts I had already, but this part number on my Seta intake is an odd number I can't figure. It seems the normal one is a 046 not a 045

[csmitty]

So, since its been a bit over a year since I've updated this figured it was about time. Plus work will be going on in earnest over the next few months to get it mostly done so it can be moved out of the garage. Hopefully under its own power. But going to get the under side done first. I've been working on it sporadically over the past year but lake season, tennis, getting engaged, and fixing my R56 MCS have gotten in the way. So here's a few pics that I have handy. Many others at home.

Found a E28 3.25 LS diff at pull a part that appears to be in good shape.


Also got a single mass fly wheel for swapping in when doing the clutch and reseal the trans.


Browsing CL at lunch usually found a MTech 1 wheel. The larger one. But was a good deal and in decent shape.


Pulling the rear subframe out to get at all the bushings. This was the RTAB condition.


And the underside. It has a lot of dirt on it. Guess dirt road driver. But I sprayed the left side with simple green and wiped down, compared to the right side that is untouched.


First parts going on and staying on, so i thought...


Those two seals are a pain to get lined up right and not have the lip of the seal fold on you. Spent a good 20-30mins fooling with it till I thought I had it, and the gasket, correct. Only to come out a few days later to work on getting the fuel lines out and find the spring for the intermediate shaft seal laying under the block. Grrrrr.....so take it all back off again. Go through the same process, had to loosen up the oil pan to drop it down some to make getting the seals lined up easier. Hopefully the seals are ok and not to stressed from all the messing about. Guess we'll see.

So thats how it is now. Hoping to get a steering rack soon so the subframe can get installed. Then new CA's, bushings, wheel bearings. Springs and shocks will stay for now for $$ reasons and time. Rear will get the same treatment, brake lines, bushings, bearings, axles. Also planning new DS, pulling the trans and seeing what seals it needs. If the engine work isn't done by move out time thats ok as long as it rolls and buttoned up good so as not to have major work pulling all the suspension back off.

[SteadyAim.]

Awesome! Looks clean

[Regnar75]

looks good man, in for more updates